ENTERTAINMENTS.

Taranaki Daily News, 22 November 1917, Page 8

ENTERTAINMENTS.

"LOOK WHO'S HERE." A BRILLIANT,SUCCESS A delightful surprise awaited those who were fortunate enough to be present at (lie Empire Theatre last night, (o witness the initial presentation of "Look Who's Here." To accommodate the company of over twenty performer?, a special stage was built, and the magnificent black and white :=tl'.ig, coupled tt-itli the striking dresseo of the artistes, combined in making n spectacle most pleasing to the eye. , The performance was opened by the "Purple Band," which scored heavily in a medley of musical fragments, ranging from grand opera to ragtime, and the musicians obtained a great hearing. The "show" was then introduced by a brilliant ensemble, followed by a burlesque on a "Court Scene" in which .Tack Waller as the barrister, Wylie Watson as the defendant, and Howard Hall as the judge, keep their delighted audience in shrieks of laughter. Gregory Ivanoff, the Russian violinist, then made his appearance, and his solo "A Russian Military Episode" gave him ample opportunity to display an exceptionally line technique, and a beautiful tone, jvhich, coupled with a really r<irked musical ability, made his item a most enjoyable one. "Potted plays" were next given, three, of these occupying the short space of .') minutes; yet each having a plot sufiicient to make a two-hours drama. Probably the cleverest of these was the "One Word Drama." None of the characters spoke more than one word to a sentence, one act comprising 5 words only. Wylie Watson, as the "Fireman,' again" convulsed his audience, as did the celebrated burlesque on a "Hungarian Band," by Messrs Waller, Watson and Dennett, which proved one of the hits of the evening. Ada Smart sang delight, fully a medley of popular songs, and the first half was terminated by the "Ideal Trio," comprising Gregory Ivanoff, Wylie Watson and Frederick Dennett, a trio of violin, cello and piano, who brought the interval curtain down to a whole-' hearted ovation on the part of the audience. The entr'acts in the interval gave Win. Hender an opportunity of displaying what an up-to-date drummer can do. The second half of the programme opened with operatic ragtimes, in which numerous familiar operatic favorites were mercilessly "ragged," followed by Cecilia Gold and Jack Wallor, who created much mirth by their "Cats" duet. A delightful speciality was then given by Dorothy, Dick and Leslie White, who introduced quite the smartest dancing act seen here. Smartly dressed and mounted, the item proved one of the most successful of the evening. Frederick Dennett, the celebrated English pianist, chose as his solo "Slavonic Rhapsodic." His work 'is marked by a wonderful technique, combined with an- artistic temperament, and he received an undeniable encore. A "Ship Scene," in which Jack Waller as a "Mai dc Mee," Wylie Watson as a sailor, and Howard Hall as the captain, figured prominently, brought a triumphant first night to a close, and "Look Who's Here" thoroughly upheld their reputation as being one of the finest productions yet seen in the Dominion. On witnessing the show, one can quite understand their success in Sydney and Wellington, and there is bound to be a crowded house to-night on the occasion of their last performance. The company will leave to-morrow for YVaitara, where they will appear on Friday night, and on Saturday they will perform at Stratford. The box plan for to-night is at Collier's.